Steam fog generator for vehicle

ABSTRACT

A stem fog generator ( 1 ) for vehicle aromatic components into a cabin and suitable for use in a vehicle, comprising a plug part ( 11 ) and a steam fog generator body ( 12 ) foldably connected to each other, wherein the plug part ( 11 ) is cylindrically formed so as to be attachable to and detachable from an accessory socket ( 14 ), a power supply from the plug part ( 11 ) is fed to a heater ( 71 ) through an operating switch ( 45 ), a loading/unloading.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a steam fog generator for vehiclecapable of transpiring aromatic components into a cabin.

BACKGROUND ART

A known device capable of transpiring liquid aromatic substances into acabin is a heating type aroma device for an automobile (see JapanesePatent Laid-Open No. 2001-327587).

The heating type aroma device for an automobile includes a plug part tobe inserted into an accessory socket for supplying power to a cigarettelighter, and a knob part formed integrally with the plug part, and theknob part includes an injection hole through which liquid aromaticsubstances such as aroma oil are injected, and a containing part forcontaining the injected liquid aromatic substances. The plug partincludes a heater that produces heat by the power supplied from theaccessory socket, and is arranged to transpire liquid aromaticsubstances by heating them with the heater into the cabin, when they areinjected through the injection hole.

For such a heating type aroma device for an automobile, however, theliquid aromatic substances have to be injected through the injectionhole without a spill, which is cumbersome.

Vibration while driving may cause the liquid aromatic substances tospill out of the injection hole.

The invention has been achieved in view of such problems in the relatedart, and has an object to provide a steam fog generator for vehiclesuitable for use in a vehicle.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

In order to solve the above described problems, there is provided asteam fog generator for vehicle according to claim 1 of the inventionincluding: a plug part attachable to and detachable from an accessorysocket provided in a cabin; and a steam fog generator body extendingfrom the plug part into the cabin, power being supplied from the vehiclethrough the plug part, wherein the steam fog generator body includes aholding part for attachably and detachably holding a cartridgecontaining liquid chemicals, a heating element that produces heat by thepower supplied through the plug part to heat the liquid chemicals in acontainer part of the cartridge and allow the liquid chemicals to passoutward through a permeable membrane covering a top opening of thecontainer part, and divergence means for diverging the liquid chemicalshaving passed through the permeable membrane into the cabin.

The liquid chemicals include aromatic substances, deodorizers,insecticide, antibacterial agents, or fungicides.

Specifically, when the steam fog generator for vehicle is used, thecartridge containing the liquid chemicals is held in the holding part ofthe steam fog generator body, the plug part is attached to the accessorysocket in an inner surface of the cabin, and the power is supplied fromthe vehicle through the plug part. At this time, the heating element ofthe steam fog generator body produces heat by the supplied power, andheats the liquid chemicals in the container part of the cartridge. Thus,the liquid chemicals pass outward through the permeable membranecovering the top opening of the container part, and are diverged intothe cabin by the divergence means of the steam fog generator body.

In the steam fog generator for vehicle according to claim 2, the steamfog generator body includes an operating switch for turning on and offthe power to be supplied to the heating element.

Specifically, the supply of the power, which is supplied from thevehicle through the plug part, to the heating element is turned on andoff by the operating switch provided in the steam fog generator body.

In one type of car, the accessory socket provided in the vehicle is of atype where supply of power is interrupted depending on states of a keyswitch of the vehicle, and in another type of car, it is of a type wherepower is always supplied regardless of the states of the key switch. Forthe latter, a heating element drains the on-vehicle battery even duringparking. Even for such a type, turning off the operating switch whengetting off the vehicle prevents the on-vehicle battery from beingunnecessarily drained without the plug part being detached from theaccessory socket.

In the steam fog generator for vehicle according to claim 3, the holdingpart includes a loading/unloading port for loading and unloading thecartridge into and from the steam fog generator body, and a storagespace for loadably and unloadably storing the cartridge inserted throughthe loading/unloading port, the divergence means is constituted by adivergence port that provides communication between the storage spaceand the outside, at least one of the container part and the permeablemembrane of the cartridge, and the steam fog generator body are made ofa transparent material, and the steam fog generator body includes anobservation part for observing the amount of liquid remaining in thecartridge.

Specifically, the steam fog generator body includes theloading/unloading port for loading and unloading the cartridge, and thestorage space for storing the cartridge inserted through theloading/unloading port, and the cartridge inserted through theloading/unloading port is held in the storage space. At this time, theliquid chemicals transpired into the storage space are supplied into thecabin through the divergence port that is in communication with theoutside.

At least one of the container part and the permeable membrane of thecartridge, and the steam fog generator body are transparent, and thesteam fog generator body includes the observation part for observing theamount of liquid remaining in the cartridge held in the steam foggenerator body. Thus, the amount of liquid chemicals remaining in thecartridge can be visually checked, facilitating the anticipation of whenthe cartridge should be replaced.

Further, in the steam fog generator for vehicle according to claim 4,the steam fog generator body extending from the plug part is foldablyconnected to the plug part, and limiting means is provided for limitinga folding direction of the steam fog generator body to a bottom side ofthe held cartridge.

Specifically, in one type of car with an accessory socket, to and fromwhich a plug part is attached and detached, provided in a front wallsurface of a driver's seat, the steam fog generator body extending fromthe plug part protrudes toward the driver's seat, which may be anuisance. In this case, the steam fog generator body extending from theplug part is folded toward the plug part.

At this time, the folding direction of the steam fog generator body islimited by the limiting means to the bottom side of the held cartridge,thus preventing folding toward the front wall surface of the top openingof the cartridge. This allows the permeable membrane through which theliquid chemicals in the cartridge pass to be directed into the cabin.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line A-A in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line B-B in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a cartridge of the embodiment; and

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line C-C in FIG. 6.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Now, the invention will be described in detail with reference to theaccompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a steam fog generator 1 for vehicle according to anembodiment, and the steam fog generator 1 for vehicle is a devicecapable of transpiring aromatic components into a cabin of a passengercar or the like.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the steam fog generator 1 for vehicle includesa plug part 11, and an elliptical steam fog generator body 12 connectedto the plug part 11. In a front part of a driver's seat in the vehiclewhere the steam fog generator 1 for vehicle is used, an instrument panel13 is provided as shown in FIG. 4, and the instrument panel 13 has anaccessory socket 14 for supplying power from an on-vehicle battery to acigarette lighter or the like.

The plug part 11 is cylindrically formed so as to be attachable to anddetachable from the accessory socket 14, and a positive terminal 22,which is pressed against a positive electrode 21 at an end of theaccessory socket 14, protrudes from a tip of the plug part 11. As shownin FIG. 3, a fuse 23 is replaceably stored in the positive terminal 22,and an electrode 24 at the other end of the fuse 23 is connected to asubstrate 26 in the steam fog generator body 12 through a harness 25 (amiddle part of the harness 25 is not shown).

An earth terminal 31 formed by folding a long metal plate is provided inthe plug part 11 so as to protrude laterally, and is configured so as tobe pressed against to a negative terminal 32 formed by an innerperipheral surface of the accessory socket 14 as shown in FIG. 4. Asshown in FIG. 3, the earth terminal 31 is connected to the substrate 26through the harness 33 (a middle part of the harness 33 is not shown),and the power from the on-vehicle battery is supplied to the substrate26 through the accessory socket 14.

On the substrate 26 to which the power is supplied, a push bottom switch41 and a light emitting diode 42 are provided, and a button 43 of theswitch 41 and the light emitting diode 42 protrude from an upper surface44 of the steam fog generator body 12. In the steam fog generator body12, the switch 41 and the button 43 constitute an operating switch 45for turning on and off the power, the power is alternately turned on andoff for each push of the button 43 of the operating switch 45, and whenthe power is on, the light emitting diode 42 is lit.

The steam fog generator body 12 is provided so as to extend into thecabin I from the plug part 11 inserted into the accessory socket 14. Thesteam fog generator body 12 is made of colorless and transparentplastic, and as shown in FIG. 1, an entire surface thereof constitutesan observation part 51 through which the inside can be seen. As shown inFIG. 3, a loading/unloading port 53 for loading and unloading acartridge 52 into and from the steam fog generator body 12 is providedat an end of the steam fog generator body 12, and a storage space 54 forloadably and unloadably storing the cartridge 52 inserted through theloading/unloading port 53 is formed inside the loading/unloading port53. The storage space 54 is formed between a support surface 55 thatsupports the cartridge 52 from the bottom and the upper surface 44 ofthe steam fog generator body 12, and constitutes a holding part of theinvention.

A protruding part 61 protrudes from the support surface 55, whichprevents the cartridge 52 stored in the storage space 54 from beingremoved out of the loading/unloading port 53, and three ribs 62, . . .that support the top of the cartridge 52 are integrally formed in thesteam fog generator body 12 as shown in FIG. 5.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 5, a cylindrical heater 71 as a heatingelement is provided on a back surface of the support surface 55, andpower is supplied to the heater 71 via the switch 41. Between the heater71 and the support surface 55, a metal plate 72 in the shape of a diskwith a large diameter is provided in intimate contact with the supportsurface 55, and the heat from the heater 71 can be extensivelytransferred.

As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of divergence ports 81, . . . areprovided in the upper surface 44 of the steam fog generator body 12, andthe divergence ports 81, . . . constitute divergence means of theinvention that provides communication between the storage space 54 andthe outside. Thus, the cartridge 52 stored in the storage space 54 canbe heated by the heater 71, and when liquid chemicals in the cartridge52 are transpired, the liquid chemicals can be diverged from thedivergence ports 81, . . . into the cabin I.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a thick connecting part 91 extends from arear end of the plug part 11, and cylindrical connecting shafts 92, 92protrude from both sides of the connecting part 91. As shown in FIG. 2,the connecting shafts 92, 92 are rotatably supported in circular holes94, 94 in both sides of a notch groove 93 with the connecting part 91being inserted into the notch groove 93 of the steam fog generator body12, and the steam fog generator body 12 extending from the plug part 11is foldably connected to the plug part 11 as shown in FIG. 4.

As shown in FIG. 3, the notch groove 93 is closed on the side of theupper surface 44 of the steam fog generator body 12, and a stopper 101as limiting means that protrudes toward and abuts against the connectingpart 91 is formed at the end of the upper surface 44. Thus, using astate where the plug part 11 and the steam fog generator body 12 areplaced in line as the reference, a folding direction S of the steam foggenerator body 12 with respect to the plug part 11 is limited to thedirection of the arrow in FIG. 4, and is set on the bottom side of thecartridge 52 held in the storage space 54.

As shown in FIG. 3, the end of the connecting part 91 is formed into anarc, and a plurality of detents (not shown) protrude from the arcuatesurface 111 at intervals in a rotational direction around the connectingshaft 92. The detents are set to a height such as to abut against an endsurface 112 that forms one wall surface of the notch groove 93, andconfigured, as shown in FIG. 4, so as to maintain a first state 113where the connecting part 91 and the steam fog generator body 12 areplaced in line, a second state 114 where they are folded 30 degrees, athird state 115 where they are folded 60 degrees, and a fourth state 116where they are folded 90 degrees.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6, the cartridge 52 is formed into arectangle, and has an arcuate tongue 121 at an end thereof. Thecartridge 52 includes a colorless and transparent container part 122 asshown in FIG. 7, and the container part 122 contains colored liquidchemicals 123 containing chemicals such as aromatic components,deodorizing components, insecticidal components, antibacterialcomponents, or fungicidal components. A flange 125 extending laterallyis formed on an opening edge of a top opening 124 of the container part122, a colorless and transparent permeable membrane 127 is bonded to theflange 125 via a colorless and transparent seal layer 126, and thepermeable membrane 127 closes the top opening 124. Thus, the amount ofliquid remaining in the colorless and transparent cartridge 52 can beobserved from the outside of the colorless and transparent steam foggenerator body 12.

The permeable membrane 127 is constituted by a membrane that prevents anescape of the liquid chemicals 123 at normal times, but allows theliquid chemicals 123 heated by the heater 71 and transpired to permeatetherethrough. Thus, heating the cartridge 52 by the heater 71 allows theliquid chemicals 123 to pass out of the cartridge 52, and allows theliquid chemicals 123 having passed through the permeable membrane 127 tobe diverged into the cabin I through the divergence ports 81, . . . .The entire permeable membrane 127 is removably covered with an aluminumseal 128 at the point of sale.

According to the embodiment including the above describedconfigurations, when the steam fog generator 1 for vehicle is used, thecartridge 52 with the aluminum seal 128 being removed is stored in thestorage space 54 through the loading/unloading port 53 in the steam foggenerator body 12. In this state, the plug part 11 is inserted into theaccessory socket 14 provided in the instrument panel 13, and the poweris supplied from the on-vehicle battery.

Then, the operating switch 45 of the steam fog generator body 12 isturned on to energize the heater 71, and the liquid chemicals 123 in thecartridge 52 are heated by the heater 71 that produces heat from thebottom of the container part 122. Thus, the liquid chemicals 123 can betranspired through the permeable membrane 127 covering the top opening124 of the container part 122 into the storage space 54, and suppliedinto the cabin I through the divergence ports 81, . . . that communicatewith the outside.

Thus, simply setting the cartridge 52 containing the liquid chemicals123 in the steam fog generator body 12, and attaching the plug part 11to the accessory socket 14 allow the liquid chemicals 123 in thecartridge 52 to be transpired into the cabin I.

This saves trouble of injecting liquid aromatic substances through aninjection hole without a spill, and improves convenience. Because thecartridge 52 is attachably and detachably held, favorite aromatic agentsor deodorizers can be obtained simply by replacing the cartridge 52 witha cartridge 52 containing different liquid chemicals. This improvesusability as compared with a conventional device that does not allowreplacement of liquid aromatic substances until injected substances runout.

Then, the liquid chemicals 123 are contained in the container part 122of the cartridge 52, and the top opening 124 of the container part 122is covered with the permeable membrane 127. Thus, vibration whiledriving causes no spill of the liquid chemicals 123, and the steam foggenerator 1 for vehicle is more suitable for use in vehicles than aconventional device that may cause a spill of liquid aromatic substancesthrough an injection hole.

The steam fog generator body 12 has the operating switch 45 forenergizing and de-energizing the heater 71, and operating the operatingswitch 45 allows the heater 71 to be turned on and off. Thus, turning onand off the operating switch 45 allows the amount of transpired liquidchemicals 123 to be adjusted.

The accessory socket 14 provided in the vehicle is of a type wheresupply of power is interrupted depending on states of a key switch ofthe vehicle, or a type where power is always supplied regardless of thestates of the key switch. For the latter, the heater 71 drains theon-vehicle battery even during parking. Even for such a type, turningoff the operating switch 45 when getting off the vehicle prevents theon-vehicle battery from being unnecessarily drained without the plugpart 11 being detached from the accessory socket 14.

The container part 122 and the permeable membrane 127 of the cartridge52 and the steam fog generator body 12 are colorless and transparent,and the entire surface of the steam fog generator body 12 constitutesthe observation part 51 through which the amount of liquid remaining inthe cartridge 52 in the steam fog generator body 12 can be observed.Thus, the amount of liquid chemicals 123 remaining in the cartridge 52can be visually checked from the outside, and the replacement timing ofthe cartridge 52 can be anticipated to provide for running out of theliquid chemicals 123.

Further, the plug part 11 and the steam fog generator body 12 arefoldably connected via the connecting shaft 92, and the stopper 101 ofthe steam fog generator body 12 abuts against the connecting part 91 ofthe plug part 11. Thus, the folding direction S of the steam foggenerator body 12 is set on the bottom side of the cartridge 52 heldtherein as shown in FIG. 4, using the state where the plug part 11 andthe steam fog generator body 12 are placed in line as the reference.

Thus, with the plug part 11 being attached to the accessory socket 14provided in the instrument panel 13 in the front part of the driver'sseat, the steam fog generator body 12 that protrudes toward the driver'sseat and is a nuisance can be folded. In FIG. 4, a state of foldingdownward is shown, but rotating the cylindrical plug part 11 allowsfolding laterally or upward.

Thus, the protruding direction into the cabin I can be changed, whichallows accommodation depending on usage patterns and improvesconvenience.

Because the folding direction S of the steam fog generator body 12 islimited to the bottom side of the cartridge 52 held therein, folding ofthe top opening 124 of the cartridge 52 toward the instrument panel 13can be prevented, and the permeable membrane 127 through which theliquid chemicals 123 in the cartridge 52 pass, and the divergence ports81, . . . through which the liquid chemicals 123 having passed throughthe permeable membrane 127 are supplied can be directed into the cabinI. This allows the transpired liquid chemicals 123 to be diverged intothe cabin I.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As described above, in the steam fog generator for vehicle according toclaim 1 of the invention, simply holding the cartridge containing theliquid chemicals such as aromatic components in the holding part of thesteam fog generator body, and attaching the plug part to the accessorysocket in an inner surface of the cabin allow the liquid chemicals inthe cartridge to be transpired into the cabin.

This saves trouble of injecting liquid aromatic substances through aninjection hole without a spill, and improves convenience. Because thecartridge is attachably and detachably held, favorite aromatic agents ordeodorizers can be obtained simply by replacing the cartridge with acartridge containing different liquid chemicals. This improves usabilityas compared with a conventional device that does not allow replacementof liquid aromatic substances until injected substances run out.

The liquid chemicals are contained in the container part of thecartridge, and the top opening of the container part is covered with thepermeable membrane. Thus, vibration while driving causes no spill of theliquid chemicals, and the steam fog generator for vehicle is moresuitable for use in vehicles than a conventional device that may cause aspill of liquid aromatic substances through an injection hole.

In the steam fog generator for vehicle according to claim 2, turning onand off the operating switch provided in the steam fog generator bodyallows the amount of transpired liquid chemicals to be adjusted.

For use in the vehicle of the type that always supplies power to theaccessory socket regardless of the states of the key switch, turning offthe operating switch when getting off the vehicle prevents the batteryfrom being unnecessarily drained without the plug part being detachedfrom the accessory socket.

In the steam fog generator for vehicle according to claim 3, the amountof liquid chemicals remaining in the cartridge held in the steam foggenerator body can be visually checked. Thus, the replacement timing ofthe cartridge can be anticipated to provide for replacement of thecartridge.

In the steam fog generator for vehicle according to claim 4, theprotruding direction into the cabin can be changed by folding the steamfog generator body extending from the plug part toward the plug part.This allows accommodation depending on usage patterns and improvesconvenience.

At this time, the folding direction of the steam fog generator body islimited by the limiting means to the bottom side of the held cartridge.Thus, folding of the top opening of the cartridge toward the front wallsurface of the driver's seat can be prevented, and the permeablemembrane of the container part through which the liquid chemicals in thecartridge pass can be directed into the cabin. This allows thetranspired liquid chemicals to be diverged into the cabin.

1. A steam fog generator for vehicle comprising: a plug part attachableto and detachable from an accessory socket provided in a cabin; a steamfog generator body extending from said plug part into the cabin, powerbeing supplied from the vehicle through said plug part; said steam foggenerator body including a holding part for attachably and detachablyholding a cartridge containing liquid chemicals, a heating element thatproduces heat by the power supplied through said plug part to heat saidliquid chemicals in a container part of said cartridge and allows saidliquid chemicals to pass outward through a permeable membrane covering atop opening of said container part, and divergence means for divergingsaid liquid chemicals having passed through said permeable membrane intothe cabin; said steam fog generator body including an operating switchfor turning on and off the power to be supplied to said heating element;said holding part including a loading/unloading port for loading andunloading said cartridge into and from said steam fog generator body,and a storage space for loadably and unloadably storing said cartridgeinserted through said loading/unloading port; said divergence meansbeing constituted by a divergence port that provides communicationbetween said storage space and the outside; at least one of saidcontainer part and said permeable membrane of said cartridge, and saidsteam fog generator body being made of a transparent material; saidsteam fog generator body including an observation part for observing theamount of liquid remaining in said cartridge; and said steam foggenerator body extending from said plug part being foldably connected tosaid plug part, and limiting means being provided for limiting a foldingdirection of said steam fog generator body to a bottom side of said heldcartridge.
 2. A steam fog generator for vehicle, comprising: a plug partattachable to and detachable from an accessory socket provided in acabin; a steam fog generator body extending from said plug part into thecabin, power being supplied from the vehicle through said plug part,said steam fog generator body including a holding part for attachablyand detachably holding a cartridge containing liquid chemicals, aheating element that produces heat by the power supplied through saidplug part to heat said liquid chemicals in a container part of saidcartridge and allows said liquid chemicals to pass outward through apermeable membrane covering a top opening of said container part, anddivergence means for diverging said liquid chemicals having passedthrough said permeable membrane into the cabin; and said steam foggenerator body extending from said plug part being foldably connected tosaid plug part, and limiting means being provided for limiting a foldingdirection of said steam fog generator body to a bottom side of said heldcartridge.
 3. The steam fog generator for vehicle according to claim 2,wherein said steam fog generator body includes an operating switch forturning on and off the power to be supplied to said heating element. 4.A steam fog generator for generating fog in a cabin of a vehicle whichis provided with power from an accessory socket of the vehicle, thesteam fog generator comprising: a plug part plugable into and removablefrom the accessory socket and which provides a connection deliveringpower; a generator body extending from said plug part into the cabin andinto which the power is supplied from the accessory socket through saidplug part, said generator body having a first end disposed at said plugpart and a second end distal with respect to said first end; a cartridgehaving first and second cartridge end portions and a body portiontherebetween defining a cavity containing liquid chemicals and includingan aperture in communication with said cavity, and said cartridgeincluding a permeable membrane covering said aperture and permittingsaid liquid chemicals to pass through said permeable membrane; saidgenerator body including a holding portion for attachably and detachablyreceiving said cartridge, said generator body enclosing at least saidfirst cartridge end portion and said body portion of said cartridgewithin the holding portion when said cartridge is at an installedposition fully inserted in said holding portion; said generator bodyhaving an exterior surface defining a loading aperture in communicationwith said holding portion, said loading aperture and said holdingportion being configured such that loading and unloading of saidcartridge is effected by sliding said cartridge with said firstcartridge end portion forward through said loading aperture and intosaid installed position whereat said cartridge is fully inserted to acapacity of said holding portion of said generator body; a heatingelement electrically connected to said plug part to receive the powersupplied through said plug part, said plug part being disposed to heatsaid liquid chemicals in said cartridge promoting passage of said liquidchemicals through said permeable membrane; said generator body beingpivotably connected to said plug part so as to be positionable in afirst position in an operational state wit said cartridge at saidinstalled position, said generator body extending substantially in linewith an axis of said plug part when in said first position, and saidgenerator body being positionable to a second position in said operablestare wit said cartridge at said installed position wherein saidgenerator body is at an angle to said axis of said plug part; and acommunicating structure delivering said liquid chemicals, which passedthrough said permeable membrane, out from said generator body into thecabin.
 5. The steam fog generator according to claim 4, wherein saidgenerator body is configured such that said cartridge, when disposed atsaid installed position, has said second cartridge end portion exposedto outside said generator body via said loading aperture.
 6. The steamfog generator according to claim 5, wherein said generator body isconfigured such that said cartridge, when disposed at said installedposition, extends out from said generator body beyond at least a portionof said exterior of said generator body.
 7. The steam fog generatoraccording to claim 6, wherein: said holding portion defines a storagecavity for said cartridge; and said communicating structure includessaid generator body having apertures in said exterior surface and incommunication with said storage cavity for delivering said liquidchemicals passing through said permeable membrane to an area outsidesaid generator body.
 8. The steam fog generator according to claim 7,wherein: at least one of a portion of said cartridge and said permeablemembrane is made of a transparent material; and said generator bodyincludes an observation part for observing the amount of liquidremaining in said cartridge.
 9. The steam fog generator according toclaim 8, further comprising an operating switch for turning on and offthe power supplied to said heating element.
 10. The steam fog generatorfor generating fog in a cabin of a vehicle which is provided with powerfrom an accessory socket of the vehicle, the steam fog generatorcomprising: a plug part plugable into and removable from the accessorysocket and which provides a connection delivering power; a generatorbody extending from said plug part into the cabin and into which thepower is supplied from the accessory socket through said plug part, saidgenerator body having a first end disposed at said plug pan and a secondend distal with respect to said first end; a cartridge having first andsecond cartridge end portions and a body portion therebetween defining acavity containing liquid chemicals and including an aperture incommunication with said cavity, and said cartridge including a permeablemembrane covering said aperture and permitting said liquid chemicals topass through said permeable membrane; said generator body including aholding portion for attachably and detachably receiving said cartridge,said generator body enclosing at least said first cartridge end portionand said body portion of said cartridge within the holding portion whensaid cartridge is at an installed position fully inserted in saidholding portion; said generator body having an exterior surface defininga loading aperture in communication with said holding portion, saidloading aperture and said holding portion being configured such thatloading and unloading of said cartridge is effected by sliding saidcartridge with said first cartridge end portion forward through saidloading aperture and into said installed position whereat said cartridgeis fully inserted to a capacity of said holding portion of saidgenerator body; a heating element disposed fixed to said generator bodyat a position extending along a side wail of said holding portion in adirection of said sliding of said cartridge, said heating element beingelectrically connected to said plug part to receive the power suppliedthrough said plug part, said plug part being disposed to heat saidliquid chemicals in said cartridge promoting passage of said liquidchemicals through said permeable membrane; and a communicating structuredelivering said liquid chemicals, which passed through said permeablemembrane, out from said generator body into the cabin.
 11. The steam foggenerator of claim 10 wherein said cartridge comprises: first and secondopposing side walls opposing each other, third and fourth opposing sidewalls opposing each other, and a bottom wall adjoining said first,second, third and fourth opposing side walls; said first, second, thirdand fourth opposing side walls in combination with said bottom walldefining said cavity; and said permeable membrane extending in a planedefined by edges of said first, second, third and fourth opposing sidewalls.
 12. The steam fog generator of claim 11 wherein said edges ofsaid first, second, third and fourth opposing side walls define saidaperture.
 13. The steam fog generator of claim 12 wherein: said firstand second opposing side walls extend from said first cartridge endportion to said second cartridge end portion and said first and secondopposing walls respectively have first and second flanges extendingoutward therefrom; and said holding portion includes first and secondguide surfaces configured to slidably engage said first and secondflanges.
 14. The steam fog generator of claim 13 wherein said heatingelement is disposed adjacent to said bottom wall so as to transfer heatthrough said bottom wall to said liquid chemicals.
 15. The steam foggenerator of claim 12 wherein said heating element is disposed adjacentto said bottom wall so as to transfer heat through said bottom wall tosaid liquid chemicals.
 16. The steam fog generator of claim 11 whereinsaid heating element is disposed adjacent to said bottom wall so as totransfer heat through said bottom wall to said liquid chemicals.
 17. Thesteam fog generator of claim 11 wherein: said first and second opposingside walls extend from said first cartridge end portion to said secondcartridge end portion and said first and second opposing wallsrespectively have first and second flanges extending outward therefrom;and said holding portion includes first and second guide surfacesconfigured to slidably engage said first and second flanges.
 18. Thesteam fog generator of claim 17 wherein said heating element is disposedadjacent to said bottom wall so as to transfer heat through said bottomwall to said liquid chemicals.
 19. The steam fog generator of claim 18wherein said cartridge includes a planar member extending from saidsecond end portion and protruding through said loading aperture, whensaid cartridge is in a fully installed position, to be exposed tooutside of the steam fog generator.
 20. The steam fog generator of claim10 wherein said cartridge includes a planar member extending from saidsecond end portion and protruding through said loading aperture, whensaid cartridge is in a fully installed position, to be exposed tooutside of the steam fog generator.